diff --git a/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.c b/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.c
index 55bf376973..2de02b3eb4 100644
--- a/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.c
+++ b/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.c
@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@ static bool create_context(struct ra_ctx *ctx, EGLDisplay display,
     int chosen = 0;
     if (cb.refine_config)
         chosen = cb.refine_config(cb.user_data, configs, num_configs);
+    if (chosen < 0) {
+        talloc_free(configs);
+        MP_MSG(ctx, msgl, "Could not choose EGLConfig!\n");
+        return false;
+    }
     EGLConfig config = configs[chosen];
 
     talloc_free(configs);
diff --git a/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.h b/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.h
index eaaf9d7a48..df489daf0c 100644
--- a/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.h
+++ b/video/out/opengl/egl_helpers.h
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ bool mpegl_create_context(struct ra_ctx *ctx, EGLDisplay display,
 
 struct mpegl_cb {
     // if set, pick the desired config from the given list and return its index
-    // defaults to 0 (they are sorted by eglChooseConfig)
+    // defaults to 0 (they are sorted by eglChooseConfig). return a negative
+    // number to indicate an error condition or that no suitable configs could
+    // be found.
     int (*refine_config)(void *user_data, EGLConfig *configs, int num_configs);
     void *user_data;
 };